Brewing giant, Nigerian Breweries Plc, on Friday May 10, 2019, honoured its partners at an elaborate event in Abuja. The company said the gesture was in recognition of the importance of trade partners to its continued growth. The event, 2019 Distributors Award, with the theme, “Celebrating Great Partnerships”, according to the company was to celebrate its esteemed business partners nationwide for their excellent performance in 2018. The event which was held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, was a platform for Nigerian Breweries Plc to reward outstanding distributors, announce new incentives for its trade partners, as well as receive feedback on its brands and innovations from its trade partners.

Speaking at the award ceremony, the managing director of Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel stated that the company is excited to “celebrate the great partnerships with its business associates that delivered an impressive performance in 2018” reiterating that it would continue to strengthen the partnerships going into the future. Borrut Bel noted that the theme of the award ‘Celebrating Great Partnerships’ was conceived to recognize and reward the resilient performance of its partners in spite of the difficult operating environment. He further stated that as part of the company’s plans to transform its route-to-market, it would be deploying some innovations across markets nationwide. He said that the company would be piloting new initiatives that would bring flexibility and comfort into how customers make their orders and in the process generate great efficiency.

In his remarks, the sales director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Uche Unigwe lauded the continuous support from distributors who have remained consistent in posting performances that add great value to the company. He said: ‘‘We are indeed very grateful for the support from our trade partners who have contributed a great deal through their performance to impact our business. Though times are a bit challenging in the market, the partnership with our distributors and transporters has helped Nigerian Breweries Plc to consolidate its leadership in the category where all of its brands play.”

The climax of the was when the distributors were rewarded for their outstanding sales performance for the 2018 business year with several of them winning in different categories of the award. Some of award categories included the National Volume Champion, Region Volume Champion, Regional Volume Champions who attained minimum of 2 million cases, Regional Volume Champion who attained less than 2 million cases, District Champions who achieved minimum of 2 million cases, District Champions who achieved 1 Million – 2 Million cases, District Champions who achieved 1 Million cases, Millionaire Club (SKDs who achieved above 1 million cases) among others. To emerge the overall winner as best distributor for 2018, last year’s winner, Mr. Kenneth Maduakor of Kenneth Maduakor Group of Companies sold over 4 million cases of products closely followed by Mr. Ikechukwu Igwe of Ifeoma Chukwuka Nigeria Limited and Mr. Jimoh Ogungbola of J. Ogungbola and Sons Ltd who came second and third respectively. In his remarks, Mr. Kenneth Maduakor, Winner, National Champion Award commended the management of Nigerian Breweries Plc for their support. “I am highly grateful to Nigerian Breweries Plc for recognizing my contribution to the overall growth of the company. This is a big motivation to continue to do business with Nigerian Breweries. It shows that the company really understands the value we bring to the business.” In the Transporter of the Year Category, Ancaps Global Investment Limited from Kaduna won the National Key Transporter of the Year award.

It was also a night of fun for the distributors and other guests present as they were serenaded and entertained by some a-list Nigerian musical artistes, Flavour and MC Galaxy.

The 8^th edition of the annual Ososo Carnival successfully held from December 27 – 30, 2018 in Ososo, Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo State. The four-day event was characterised by large turn out of fun seekers and holiday makers who participated in various activities lined up for the week long festival.

The 2018 edition of the Carnival which had as its theme “Celebrating Unity for Community Development”, was a complete package of leisure events which included street dance, parade of costumes, arena based performances, beauty pageant, musical funfairs, bonfire, cultural display, art and fashion exhibitions and sporting activities with huge branding, merchandising and sales opportunities for intending sponsors and partners.

These events are reminiscent of the rich culture, vast tourism potentials, hospitality and peace-loving nature of the Ososo people.

Goldberg, a premium quality lager beer brewed to golden standard, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries was the sponsor of the 2018 edition of the Carnival. There was a beer village set up by Goldberg where its engaged and rewarded its teeming consumers with branded items ranging from Ankara, T-shirts, free drinks, etc who participated in various games and activities.

Interestingly, at the beer village, Goldberg provided free wi-fi for consumers to enjoy free access to the internet, indicating that they had a good time with the brand that supported the Carnival.

The Goldberg sponsored carnival which hosted the entire Ososo community and beyond, was a thrill of a lifetime, with lots of cheer, joy and excitement from all participants.

The climax of the Ososo Carnival was the performance by award winning and multi-talented guest artiste, Skales who performed many of his hit songs to the delight and excitement of the audience.

Ososo Carnival is a cultural event held annually to showcase the cultural heritage, traditions and tourism potentials of Ososo in Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo State.

The Carnival is a complete package of leisure events which includes street dance, parade of costumes, arena based performances, beauty pageant, musical funfairs, bonfire, cultural display, art and fashion exhibitions, visual creativity and sporting activities.

These events are reminiscent of the rich culture, vast tourism potentials, hospitality and peace-loving nature of the Ososo people who are inexplicably obsessed and passionate about their community and natural environmental endowments. There is no denying the fact that there is an intrinsic connection between the Ososo man and the elements that drive the carnival.

It is a festival of cultural display with a Caribbean mix aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials of Ososo.

The first edition took place on December 27 – 30, 2011 whilst the 2017 edition held on December 26– 30, 2018.

In a bid to further harness the immensely rich cultural/tourism potentials abundantly embedded in Edo state, the Ososo carnival initiative has organized a press conference to unveil the official logo of the 8th edition of the Ososo carnival 2018, tagged “Celebrating Unity for Community Development” slated to hold from December 26th to 31st, 2018 at Ososo in Akoko-Edo local government of Edo state.

Addressing the gathering, President of the Ososo Carnival Initiative, Mr. Moses Ajayi ceased the opportunity to outline the program of event for the historic carnival which will herald a complete package of leisure events ranging from street dance, parade of costumes, arena based performances, beauty pageant, musical fun-fairs, bonfire, cultural display, art and fashion exhibition, visual creativity and exciting sporting activities.

“We are poised to put Ososo on the global map by showcasing the aesthetic cultural heritage, tradition and huge tourism potentials thereby creating a viable value chain of economic prosperity”

According to him, he said the essence of this year’s carnival is geared towards promoting peace and unity hence the need for culturally endowed communities to tap into the tourist destination allowing domestic tourism to blossom.

Mr. Moses Ajayi called on Ososo indigenes both home and abroad to be more united, supporting the success of the carnival. He thanked His excellency, the executive governor of the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, individuals and corporate sponsors for their unflinching commitment in ensuring the investment potentials of tourism in Edo state are tapped into.

Representing the DG of the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Ogunsewe, the South-south coordinator of the council, Princess Ivie Igbinoba said the Ososo carnival is recognized and highly regarded as a national festival by the council.

“The council will always encourage and support the organizers of the Ososo carnival. She assured that the NCAC will be fully on ground for the carnival” she emphasized.

Also speaking at the press conference, a major media partner of the Ososo carnival and CEO of Neo media, Mr. Ehi Braimah, stated that the 2018 edition will be bigger and better. “The presence of Edo state Commissioner Arts, culture and Diaspora affairs in our midst goes to show that the carnival is thick and dear to the heart of Edo state government”.

“As a marketing and communications platform, we will ensure Ososo carnival is well packaged, given wide promotion which will launch the event into the international space. The carnival has the capacity to grow our local economy by dragging tourist from all over the world to Ososo thereby creating countless opportunity which includes boosting hospitality, air and road transportation businesses in the state”

Mr. Ehi in the course of his engagement enumerated some of the current and soon to be sponsor for the carnival. “Last year we brought a foremost Nigerian musical artist in the person of Oritsefemi to Ososo carnival, the 2018 edition promises to be more exciting with another bigger performing artist”, he added.

While showing more light about the Carnival’s logo and explaining the motives behind the beautifully designed masthead, its creator, Mr. Olu Ajayi said culture is a formidable tool for national development used to creatively affect the lives of people. He said he decided to explore elements peculiar to our local environment, representing our rich cultural heritage which are purely indigenously yet of global standard for the logo design.

However, the commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Osemwingie Ero emphatically asserted that Edo state government appreciates arts and culture and places high value on the tourism industry. He reeled out some of his achievements since assuming office as commissioner. The elated commissioner was happy to announce that Edo state will be the proud host of next year’s NAFEST. “Arts, culture and tourism when properly harnessed is capable of reducing criminal activities – keeping the minds of young people productively busy and creating a broader value chain of benefit for our people remain our top priority, we will be fully involved and support the Ososo Carnival”, he reiterated.

Highpoint of the press conference was the official unveiling of the Ososo Carnival 2018 logo by the commissioner.